 . CASA JEFFERSON 2022 NEWSLETTER Dear CASA Jefferson Volunteer Advocates, On behalf of all our team, we want to say Thank you for your commitment to our CASA Jefferson children. As we enter into the last month of the year, we want to make sure that you have all the support you need to fulfill your role as an advocate. Please reach out to your AC if you are in need of assistance with visitations. We are highly encouraging you to conduct visitations with your CASA child(ren) prior to the holidays. Don’t forget to enter your notes early in December, so that you can enjoy much needed time with your family. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season! ♥ Wendy Magee CASA Jefferson Executive Director   CASA JEFFERSON's Mission is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through volunteers advocating for safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for foster children in our community. CASA JEFFERSON's Vision is to have volunteers recruited, trained and assigned to every child in the foster care system in Jefferson Parish. New Volunteer Advocate Pre-Service Training classes are Self-Guided and completed On-Line. As of December 1, 2022, we have 26 children waiting for a volunteer to advocate for them. If you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a volunteer have them call our office (504 533-8757) or email Ms. Margaret at [email protected].
 Overuse of Psychiatric Medication in Foster Children Multiple studies have concluded that children in foster care, many of whom are victims of abuse and trauma, are prescribed psychiatric medication at a rate significantly higher than other populations of children. Much of the time, the medications are used to control behavior and medication prescription treatment may be problematic. Advocates should possibly consider recommending that their doctor re-evaluates the meds that they are taking. Clinical Red Flags - a child is prescribed medication without first having been treated with and not responded to psychotherapy - a child 13-17 is prescribed a 4th psychiatric medication - a child 9-12 is prescribed a 3rd medication - a child 6-8 or under is prescribed a 2nd medication - a child 5 or under is prescribed any medication - a child is prescribed 2 or more medications at the same time - a child is prescribed a medication to treat side effects - a child of any age is prescribed a second medication in the same class as the child is currently taking (for example, a second anti-psychotic) - a child is diagnoses with bipolar disorder or adjustment disorder or targeted symptoms are primarily behavioral and anger *REMEMBER TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS*  Drug Use Among Youth: 2022 Facts & Statistics Report Highlights: Early drug abuse corelates with substance abuse problems later in life, the most significant increases in destructive behavior appear to take place p among older teens and young adults.
Youth Alcohol Abuse is the most commonly abused substance among teens and young adults.
Marijuana Abuse: is one of the most commonly used illicit substances among youth.
Opioid Abuse: is considered a national public health emergency.
Stimulant Abuse: Youth are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants than they are to abuse cocaine or amphetamines.
Indicators of Drug or Alcohol Abuse
OBSERVE - ASK QUESTIONS - HOW CAN I HELP YOU?  December BIRTHDAYs CASA VOLUNTEERS Anne Caperino Ben Haney Catherine Cummins Dona Patterson Julie Kutcha Lenny Burgos Lourdes Martinez Michelle Cullison Taffie Autry  December ANNIVERSARYs CASA VOLUNTEERS Catherine Cummins – 1yr Gertrude Taylor – 1yr Vincent Ferrand – 7yrs   Our Mission is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through volunteers advocating for safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for foster children in our community. Our Vision is to have volunteers recruited, trained, and assigned to every child in the foster care system in Jefferson Parish. As of November 1, 2022, we have 20 children waiting for a volunteer to advocate for them. If you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a volunteer, have them call our office (504 533-8757) and speak to Ms. Margaret.    CASA NEWSLETTER 2022 PLEASE SUPPORT CASA JEFFERSON WHEN YOU ARE HOLDAY SHOPPING! AMAZONSmile is a simple and automatic way for favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. How do I shop with AmazonSmile? To use AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com How do I select a charitable organization to support with AmazonSmile? On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization to receive donations from your future eligible AmazonSmile purchases. (Search for CASA Jefferson) AmazonSmile will remember your selected charity whenever you shop at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile activated in the Amazon Shopping app, and then every eligible purchase you make through AmazonSmile will result in a donation for your selected charity. How much of my purchase does Amazon donate? The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays! Wendy Magee CASA Jefferson, Executive Director  CASA Jefferson’s Mission is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through volunteers advocating for safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for foster children in our community.  Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Accomplishments  November is National Adoption Month November is National Adoption Month. It is the month when the broader community acknowledges the efforts of those whose lives have been impacted by adoption and who facilitate the process. This month helps spread awareness and encourages all of us to learn about adoption. National Adoption Month celebrates the families who have grown through adoption. It also recognizes the journey of the many children who are still waiting for their destined families. It further highlights the thousands of children worldwide in need of adoption, and how easy it is to make a difference even if you cannot adopt. HISTORY OF NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH Every year, there are more and more children in need of finding secure and safe families. National Adoption Month sheds light on the process and the positive impacts of adoption. The state of Massachusetts was the first to promote adoption-related efforts in 1976. Governor Mike Dukakis announced the first week of November as “Adoption Week” to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system. The idea slowly grew in popularity and spread throughout the nation. Following this, in 1984, President Gerald R. Ford made adoption week a national event. As the popularity of this week grew, more states started participating, and it became difficult to fit all the events into a period of seven days. This was when President Bill Clinton extended the week-long event into a whole month, which came to be known as National Adoption Month, which is celebrated globally. National Adoption Month is a chance for all — individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, states, and the government — to celebrate adoption. Adoption is encouraged as a positive way to grow families and take children out of foster care. Many fundraising drives, recognition dinners, community activities, and awareness campaigns are held all across the nation to observe this month. National Adoption Month also includes National Adoption Day, November 20. This day is observed in courthouses all across the country, where thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously on the Saturday directly after it. Courts are encouraged to deal with the backlog of adoptions on this day.   YOUR CASA SUPERVISOR will be your point of contact for CASA Jefferson’s children Christmas gift distribution. You will be notified when your CASA child's gifts are ready for pick-up and delivery.   November BIRTHDAYs CASA VOLUNTEERS Allison Ulrich Christopher Cazenave Daimon Ponthieux La’Ketha Facey Lisa Stigler Jacquie Bonano Jon Mitchell  November ANNIVERSARYs CASA VOLUNTEERS Alice Reese - 10yrs Bruce Blenkam - 6yrs Cynthia Zandi - 4yrs Kay Hjartberg - 13yrs Lenora Clemons - 14yrs Lorenza Lawless – 6yrs Mary Vastola – 15yrs Richard Saxer - 10yrs Shane Wilson - 4yrs Shanna Johnson - 4yrs Tuesday, November 29, 2022 Tuesday, November 29, 2022 is Giving Tuesday. A movement born in 2012 as a local experiment. It has grown into a worldwide independent nonprofit that encourages people to do good in their communities. At CASA Jefferson, we continuously make it our business to end the suffering of those most vulnerable among us: foster children. Our volunteers advocate for the safety and wellbeing of children in the foster care system because we believe that every child deserves to grow in a safe and loving home. Make an Impact by Donating with CASA Jefferson Go to CASA Jefferson’s Face book page https://www.casajefferson.org/giving-tuesday.html and help us reach our fundraising goal of $10,000 this Giving Tuesday November 29th, 2022!  |
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